The Immortals Handbook

[Cheiromancer]

That won't hold, in general, for *any* quadratic function:

(4ax^2+2bx+c) / (ax^2+bx+c) := 2

implies a=c=0, a linear function.

No I mean f(x) = ax^2

Then f(2x)= a(2x)^2=a*4*x^2=4ax^2=4f(x)

I mean would the XP for monsters not be CR^3 x7.5 rather than CR^2 x75?

No. Cuz then doubling the CR of a creature would increase the XP awarded by a multiple of 8. But as it is, it is only a multiple of 4. So the XP is proportionate to the square of the CR, not the cube.

 

[Cheiromancer]

oops. I just noticed that you asked me to keep the response about CR/EL in the other threads. Sorry.

 

[S'mon]

1. Thor - determine Divine Status (ie. Intermediate God)
2. Roll Levels (I have a table for this; ie. Demigod = 30 + 1d10); I also have a table for split class levels.
3. Roll Ability scores
4. Apply Divinity Template
5. Apply Portfolio Templates
6. Determine Feats & Divine Abilities

This still sounds very similar to PC creation.

re #3 - some Default Arrays for deity-level characters (Quasi, demi, lesser etc) would be good, or preferably just the total number of derived bonuses to distribute between all stats so I don't have to worry about the primary stats - (see my attached Quick NPC System file, derived from an idea by Henry). Eg "total bonus +60" could be 6 stats at +10 (ie stats of 30 or 31) or anything else that added up to 60.

Eg The 25-PB default array gives total bonuses of (+2 +2 +1 +1 -1 =) +5, increasing to +6 at 4th level, +7 at 12th, +8 at 20th. I normally use +6 at 1st-7th for Elites, +7 at 8th-15th, +8 at 16th-20th. This makes NPC creation _much_ quicker.

As it stands I'm worried the IH will be great for gearheads - those who enjoy spending hours tinkering with rules, creating NPCs and such - but of limited use in actual play with limited prep time, so the more you can do to streamline NPC creation the better IMO.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey S'mon!

This still sounds very similar to PC creation.

Its difficult to deviate wildly from it without omiting something.

re #3 - some Default Arrays for deity-level characters (Quasi, demi, lesser etc) would be good, or preferably just the total number of derived bonuses to distribute between all stats so I don't have to worry about the primary stats -

That sounds fairly straightforward, I was considering giving a default total ability score number followed by an average.

eg. Elite Array = 72, average 12*

Demigod Array = 139, average 23-24*

If I add your idea...

Demigod Array = 139, average score 23-24*, total bonuses +39

*With a stipulation that no score should start at more than 150% the average (before feats/abilities/items of course).

So if you were designing Hercules you would likely give him something like Str & Con 36, Dex & Cha 24; Int & Wis 12. Then perhaps give him a few Great Strength epic feats and the Legendary Strength Cosmic Ability to finish him with about Str 82.

(see my attached Quick NPC System file, derived from an idea by Henry). Eg "total bonus +60" could be 6 stats at +10 (ie stats of 30 or 31) or anything else that added up to 60.

Okay, thanks.

Eg The 25-PB default array gives total bonuses of (+2 +2 +1 +1 -1 =) +5, increasing to +6 at 4th level, +7 at 12th, +8 at 20th. I normally use +6 at 1st-7th for Elites, +7 at 8th-15th, +8 at 16th-20th. This makes NPC creation _much_ quicker.

I dunno, I sort of prefer my method of using the averages as a mean figure. It lets you visualise the actual attribute quicker.

As it stands I'm worried the IH will be great for gearheads -

I hope it will be for everyone.

those who enjoy spending hours tinkering with rules, creating NPCs and such - but of limited use in actual play with limited prep time, so the more you can do to streamline NPC creation the better IMO.

Agreed. I suppose it really depends on how many examples I can squeeze in.

I am considering a setup akin to the DMG (and ELH) with sample deities. However, instead of 1/level/class there would be 1/divine status/primary class.

So people could just pick and choose some generic deities and all they would have to do would be to add the portfolios.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey Chieromancer mate!

oops. I just noticed that you asked me to keep the response about CR/EL in the other threads. Sorry.

Don't worry about it mate, it was my fault for initially messing up the formatting of my post.

 

[S'mon]

I dunno, I sort of prefer my method of using the averages as a mean figure. It lets you visualise the actual attribute quicker.

In play though you don't need to actually know the attribute (unless you track encumbrance for demigods) - only the derived stat bonuses. If you know the stat bonuses and the BAB & Save formulae - good save (level/2)+2, bad saves level/3 - you can run NPCs on the fly without having to look up any tables.

Rem I'm looking at it from an active-GMing perspective rather than a design perspective, I need to have something I can use easily (& quickly) in Epic-level play; need for hours of prep time is the bane of 3e IMO.

I suggest something like the following for Epic NPCs:

Level Total Bonuses Max Bonus (highest score) Total Item Boosts (max)
21-23 +10 (+6) +4 (+3)
24-27 +12 (+7) +5 (+3)
28-31 +14 (+7) +6 (+3)
32-35 +16 (+8) +7 (+4)
36-39 +18 (+8) +8 (+5)

So a 25th level Fighter might have STR +7 (ie a 24-25) CON +4 DEX +1, with +5 boosts in items, say +3 STR bonus from a Girdle of +6 STR-stat and +2 CON bonus from Bracers of Health +4 CON-stat.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey S'mon!

In play though you don't need to actually know the attribute (unless you track encumbrance for demigods) - only the derived stat bonuses. If you know the stat bonuses and the BAB & Save formulae - good save (level/2)+2, bad saves level/3 - you can run NPCs on the fly without having to look up any tables.

Rem I'm looking at it from an active-GMing perspective rather than a design perspective, I need to have something I can use easily (& quickly) in Epic-level play; need for hours of prep time is the bane of 3e IMO.

I suggest something like the following for Epic NPCs:

Level Total Bonuses Max Bonus (highest score) Total Item Boosts (max)
21-23 +10 (+6) +4 (+3)
24-27 +12 (+7) +5 (+3)
28-31 +14 (+7) +6 (+3)
32-35 +16 (+8) +7 (+4)
36-39 +18 (+8) +8 (+5)

So a 25th level Fighter might have STR +7 (ie a 24-25) CON +4 DEX +1, with +5 boosts in items, say +3 STR bonus from a Girdle of +6 STR-stat and +2 CON bonus from Bracers of Health +4 CON-stat.

It should be simplicity itself for me to extend the table to encompass both ability scores AND ability score bonuses.

 

[slingbld]

Web Site?

So, UK when's your site going live?

Just wondering

Slingbld~

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey Slingbld mate!

So, UK when's your site going live?

Just wondering

Slingbld~

Well if everything goes to plan I'll have the domain name, webspace and so forth all sorted on Friday.

However I don't think I'll allow access until about a week after that until I get all the content on that I have planned at the start.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Hey Upper_Krust!

I know your wild & reckless days of visiting threads all across the boards are over, at least until you finish your book...


...but I thought you might be interested in a prestige class I wrote?

Transcendant Epic PrC

Good luck with the book (and site, of course)!